Fighting animal cruelty one walk at a time with the Gold Coast Million Paws Walk

While Teah Frizzell loves the cats she takes care of every day, her heart really belongs to someone else — her chihuahua mini fox cross, Mia...

WHILE Teah Frizzell loves the cats she takes care of every day, her heart really belongs to someone else — her chihuahua mini fox cross, Mia.

Ms Frizzell, the Miami RSPCA adoption co-ordinator, and her little dog have been helping to spread the word about the RSPCA’s Million Paws Walk at Broadwater Parklands.

From 8.30am tomorrow, hundreds of walkers will hit the pavement at Southport to raise money for the protection of all creatures great and small.

Walkers register their doggie friends online or on the day for a fee, which goes directly to supporting the work of RSPCA staff and volunteers.

“I love it (the Walk), it's such a good day out, I highly recommend it,” Ms Frizzell said.

“There are so many cute pooches, it’s such a fantastic day.”

Ms Frizzell’s own story with Mia reflects her commitment to animal welfare, taking her pet on when she worked in the Canberra area and Mia was just a tiny pup.

Mia was surrendered with a litter to Animal Welfare when she was about four weeks old.

“I took them on, cared for them, bottle-fed them,’’ she said.

“Then when it came time to giving them back, I couldn’t let her go so I adopted.”

The costs to care for surrendered, abandoned and injured pets and wildlife total more than $48 million annually in Queensland alone, with less than two per cent of that figure covered by government funding.

More than $616,000 has been raised throughout Australia since the campaign started earlier this year.

Visit millionpawswalk.com.au to register your dog or to find out more.